Myself, Karthik - A Lit the Light Volunteer

 Hello All,

Welcome to Lit the Light's Coordinator aka Leads Blog Series, here we want to hear from our coordinating team about "What?... How?... Why?...and few more questions" as it comes...directly to our leads.  This can be considered as an assessment of our performance, and any improvement suggestions (if any) from our Leads, who have been with us during our ups and downs. To start with... Here's our Core Team Member, a senior coordinator, our Audiobook recording and Audio Library lead Karthik, and his experience with Lit the Light. 

1.      1.     Can you tell us a little about yourself?

 
Hi, I’m Karthik, an engineering graduate working in Eaton as a scheduler. I’m a Planning Engineer, currently staying in Pondicherry. I’m passionate about planning and executing projects on time. I’ve always liked meeting new people and hearing their experiences, their life story and what they’ve been through.

2.      How did you hear about Lit the light and why did you decide to start volunteering here?
 
I had found LTL through a Facebook post by the founder, Barath, and went on to partake in my very first volunteer project of scribing for college students. I further went on to record audiobooks for students pursuing a degree in M.A English Literature for a month, and after that, I have been committed to volunteering and coordinating activities ever since.
 
3.      What aspects of being a volunteer do you like the most?
 
Coordinating and being associated with Lit the Light is my passion. Having said that, I am able to balance passion and my professional work at the same time felt fulfilling and assisting the visually-impaired students with their exams and other academic work was a challenge we were able to overcome together. I was also able to relate my time with Lit the Light as a form of relieving my work pressure as it helped me divert my energy towards serving the community. Doing my part to make a difference in our society has enabled me to work towards a better cause and I couldn’t be more thankful.
 
4.      What is your most memorable experience volunteering with Lit the Light?
 
The day I finished recording my first audio book for Ravi, a student pursuing M.A Literature, I was filled with a sense of satisfaction and purpose. Also, being part of the team that started the Lit the Light-ACT in Porur, a training center that equips the visually impaired with special education that provides them with the necessary tools required to navigate their path towards employment taught me a lot about their perseverance and determination to make it in today’s fast-paced world despite their disability and motivated me as an individual as well.
 
5.      Do you have any message for anyone who wants to join us at LTL Volunteer team?
 
If you want to be part of an initiative that not only celebrates the talents of the visually impaired but also promotes inclusion and accessibility, Lit the Light Trust is exactly what you’re looking for. Work with the students by trying to connect with them on a personal level by understanding their needs to gain a soulful experience. Most importantly, to be part of this team, you should understand these students' needs your empathy, and never your sympathy. It’s not about holding their hand and pushing them forward, it is about putting our hand on their shoulder and guiding them along their side.

 

     Lit the Light thanks Karthik and appreciates him for his time and support for the upliftment of the Visually Challenged community in every possible...Lit the Light takes the opportunity, rather proud to brag that Karthik is one of the indispensable backbone of our organization and a role model for many other volunteers. Thanks again Karthik. 

Article by Ms. Nandhita Vaidyanathan